silly thing this football business

Disrespectful. A man who’s won the World Cup is given just 6mths to prove himself with someone elses team! Chelsea really are clueless Phil!

well who was expecting that?!!

Normally the end of the transfer window ends in a bit of an anti-climax. This summer was different, probably the most exciting and most unexpected! Monday morning and it looked like it was going to be a summer of transfers that never were; Barry to Liverpool, Berbatov to Man Utd, Robinho to Chelsea etc etc. But what happened later in the day no one seemed to expect. The events that occured at the City of Manchester Stadium have the potential to turn the Premier League on its head, Man City now have more financial power than Chelsea, they even managed to capture Chelsea’s summer long transfer target Robinho.

The reports that came out on the 1st were hard to believe, first bidding for Berbatov, then capturing Robinho and since the window has closed more reports are coming through of Man City’s new found self confidence in the transfer market (see below).

Obviously the ambition is there and it going to be tough on the current top four, Chelsea can now be easily outbid for a player, how long will Man Utd continue to be the top team in Manchester and how will Arsenal and Liverpool cope as they contiue to try and play catch up with Man Utd and Chelsea with Man City via for the Champions League spot!

Well it’s looking to be a very interesting season, especially when the next transfer window rolls around!

is the special one still feeling special?

Wow what a surprise I had when I woke up this morning. Not only was waking up an hour earlier to go to work so I could finish earlier, but I woke up to the news that Jose Mourinho had parted ways with Chelsea FC. Okay they got off to a bad start this season but so have Man Utd and Liverpool started poorly last season. Also with Man United not being their usual prolific selves there was every chance Chelsea could have got something at Old Trafford on the weekend.

As yet (and probably for a good while) we don’t know why Chelsea and Jose have gone their separate ways at such an early part of the season, did Mourinho walk or was he pushed we will maybe never know as Roman, Peter and co will probably get all involved to sign a confidentiality agreement. Roman Ambramovich may well have decided enough is enough after the Rosenborg game, Rosenborg the weak team of Chelsea’s group held them to a 1-1 draw. Apparently Ambramovich decided on buying a football game after watching Man Utd play Real Madrid in an epic game. After that he then decided to buy a club to conquer Europe in the style which the Red Devils and the Galacticos played that evening, Roman should’ve noted that neither team won the European Cup that year.

I feel it definitely is not a step forward for Chelsea, Mourinho has done an amazing job at Chelsea, winning so much in such little time, okay he’s had the money but everyone knows money does not guarantee anything in football. It is hard to keep so many massive names happy like Mourinho did. I have not agreed wit a lot of what Mourinho has done and was the main reason why one of Europe’s top refs (on a par with Collina) Frisk took early retirement. Whoever will be gaining Jose will be gaining success, and the English Premier League will be leaving a great character and one of the greatest premiership managers.

I’ll leave you with one of Jose gems, it comes at the end of this YouTube video summarising his Chelsea life in three minutes, he came out with some really odd stuff but possibly left he strangest until the final few days, here’s Mourinho comparing his team with an omelette?!?!

See ya Jose!

england v germany

As it’s the friendly between England and Germany tonight, I thought I’d have a go at selecting my England eleven from McClaren’s squad (not easy with some of the muppets he’s selected). No Rooney, Gary Neville, Lennon, Gerrard, or Hargreeves. Plus Owen and Beckham are severely lacking in match practice.

 

I’ve chosen a 4 – 5 -1 formation due to the lack of options up front (as Johnson is doubtful). Crouch as the lone striker, as much as I rate Defoe, Spurs have really destroyed his confidence, so it’s the bench for him. I’ll have Wright-Philips on the right, after his promising start to the season with Chelsea, Joe Cole on the left and Lampard and Carrick in the middle. Lampard supporting Crouch as much as possible and Carrick supplying the passes. I’d pick Barry as the holding midfielder, as Hargreeves is injured yet again. In defence I’ve settled with (from right to left) Richards, Ferdinand, Terry and Ashley Cole, with Robinson in goal. Due to absentees, Lampard, Wright-Phillips and Barry can be thankful for their places.

A couple of the papers are claiming England will start with Smith and Owen upfront. Although I beleive when on form and match fit both are quality scorers, I don’t feel they are ready for it this early in the season.

Score prediction: England 2 -1 Germany